Caltrans maintenance crews will
be closing two lanes of the Bay Bridge earlier than expected tonight, in order
to complete emergency repairs of a pothole in the bridge deck. The hole is in
the westbound (upper) deck of the bridge, about one-half mile from Yerba Buena
Island.

The hole first appeared last
Monday morning, on the westbound number 5 (far right) lane. Crews performed a
temporary repair of the hole that afternoon. The pothole was scheduled for a
permanent repair one week ago, but scheduling conflicts forced a postponement.

Normally, nighttime lane closures
begin at 10 or 11pm. However, Caltrans supervisors estimate it will take about
eight hours to perform this particular task. Accordingly, the number 5
westbound lane will be closed at 7:30 this evening, and will remain closed until
5 am. For safety reasons, the number 1 (far left) lane on the
lower, eastbound deck will close from 9:00 this evening until 5:00 tomorrow
morning. The closures will run from one end of the bridge to the other.

Caltrans crews remain deeply
affected by the recent accident in San Jose involving two of our highway
workers. We urge motorists to "Slow In The Cone Zone," and to remember
that traffic fines are doubled in construction/maintenance areas.